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Thursday, September 24, 2015

WOULD-BE LOBBYIST ARRESTED FOR CAMPAIGN FRAUD

As a result
of a joint investigation by the Miami-Dade State Attorney’s Office Public
Corruption Task Force and the Miami-Dade County Office of the Inspector General,
David Alberto Carcache (Carcache), a would-be lobbyist and political consultant,
was arrested and charged with:

2 countsFalse Swearing(3rd Degree Felony)

1 countAiding, Abetting, or Advising in the Violation of the Election Code (3rd DegreeFelony)

5 countsFalsifying Records(1st Degree Misdemeanor)

Carcache,
also known as David Carcache-Guzman and David Guzman, represented himself as a
lobbyist/consultant assisting various candidates running for several Miami-Dade
Community Council positions during the August 26, 2014, elections.

“A young man’s goal of
creating his own business is something we usually encourage,” commented State
Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle. “However, Mr. Carcache’s
business approach of undermining Miami-Dade’s Community Council system,
corrupting our election process, has led to his arrest. The investigation by my
Public Corruption Task Force and the Miami-Dade Office of the Inspector General
uncovered evidence of numerous fraudulent campaign documents and
transactions. Thanks to their efforts, someone working to taint our
election system has been thwarted.”

The investigation began when a resident of Community Council #12
received a letter from the Miami-Dade Department of Elections providing
information to new candidates. However, no one at the address was actually running
for election. The resident contacted authorities, initiating an extensive

investigation which identified Carcache and his scheme
to solicit and control candidates running for Community Council seats. Having
enough politicians beholden to him on various Community Council seats would
allow Carcache to effectively sell his (unregistered) lobbying and consulting
services. Carcache was undeterred by the fact that some of his candidates were
unqualified for election since they did not reside within specified CommunityCouncil boundaries.

“‘All politics is
local’ a phrase taken to heart by Carcache who sought to manipulate and
peddle his influence in our County government. But for this
investigation, there would be three elected officials in office, being
controlled by the defendant. The OIG will continue to provide oversight
of the election process and robustly investigate all allegations of election
fraud as it pertains to every level of Miami-Dade County government,” stated
Mary T. Cagle, Miami-Dade County Inspector General.

The investigation found that Carcache
prepared fraudulent candidate qualifying documents, set up and controlled
candidates’ email accounts, and submitted fraudulent campaign treasurer finance
reports. At Carcache’s direction, thousands of dollars in campaign expenses
were paid in checks or money orders payable to Carcache's sister and mother. Carcache
submitted, or caused to be submitted, numerous documents containing false
information and falsely sworn documents to the Miami-Dade Elections Department in
connection with the campaigns of three Community Council candidates. Two
candidates, Mauricio Rodriguez-Varela and Daniel Diaz won their positions to
Community Council #11/113 and Community Council #12/123, respectively.They have resigned as a result of the
investigation. The third candidate, Jesus Antonio Salas, withdrew from the race
prior to the election.